On Thursday, April 30th, the Rhinebeck Music Department’s seniors performed their final notes (on this stage at least). These seniors have been sharing their music for the past four years of high school and beyond, and we wanted to capture a few words from them to leave behind. We asked them the following questions as a base, but just like always, they found new and creative ways to approach them every time, mentioning the ways the music department has affected them internally, externally (socially), and how it’s going to impact them, in some cases, for the rest of their lives.

How have you been impacted by the music department?

Genevieve Wahlgren: I really like playing the clarinet.

Abby Roger: The music department saved my life and kept me sane throughout the entirety of high school.

Amaia Hayes: It has strengthened my friendships, helped me to further my musical skills, express myself and built my confidence. Music is my outlet when words don’t work. It has helped me find meaning and purpose from school.

Joslan Carter: The Rhinebeck High School music department has absolutely changed my life. Not only has it of course helped me enhance my skills (in flute and voice but also in steel drum, piano, guitar, and just as a musician in general), but it has helped me discover who I want to be as a leader, thinker, and person in the world. The music wing has become an absolute safe haven and space of creativity and growth for me these past four years, and anytime I have the opportunity I go there to practice what I already am working on and to try new things. As for teachers, Mr. Conroy and Ms. Natalie are more than you could ever ask for. They are always there to talk about whatever random musical idea pops into my mind when I’m quite literally mid-measure of a piece, and have inspired the way I want to be as a person, in addition to as a teacher, for the rest of my life.

Elliot VanSteenburg: It’s helped me find myself, who I am, and who I want to be. Mostly in Chorus, but I’ve found more confidence in myself and my voice. It’s built a community that some of my closest friends are in. The teachers are some of the loveliest people I’ve ever met, and have impacted my life so greatly that I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do when I move away. Also there’s just so much joy in being able to play something well with other people. And being able to connect with someone over something you’re both passionate about is really important, and I hadn’t had that before music.

Jenni Cruz: I haven’t been in music for as long as some others have been (like Band and Chorus since middle school), but I love how there’s always been opportunities to be involved in the music department even if you aren’t enrolled in those classes. I have been in Choir Club all four years and just joined chorus this year, and it’s just been so fun for me. I love being in the Chorus room, and I love all of that. Another thing I like about Choir Club is that we’re able to have some students that play guitar or percussion like Lily does.

Brandon Martinez: It’s strengthened my love for music, especially because I have family members in Mexico who are mostly professional percussionists, so it’s inspired me to be like them. There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t think about playing or performing a song; it’s something I think about on a daily basis. It’s made me want to watch more musicals or live performances that relate to music. Like I remember going to see the Lion King on Broadway in December, and I did like the acting aspect, but I couldn’t stop paying attention to the percussionists who were performing on the ledges. It’s also made me want to study music (maybe minor in it) in college – I want to keep it in my life any way possible, whether it’s me practicing the piano by myself or actually playing songs with others.

Lily D’Ordine: The music department has given me a lot of friends that I would not have had otherwise. I’ve improved as a singer especially because of it and also as a drummer (less so because I’ve been doing it for less time, but definitely as a singer I’ve greatly improved because of this program).

Mason Decker: The people and making music with the community have impacted me, but also the opportunity to grow myself: as I’ve learned how to play the saxophone I’ve become more confident in my ability to play but also myself and my ability to express myself freely. 

River Enschede: Well I’ve been impacted. I learned new instruments (I transitioned from the alto sax to the bari sax), I’ve made a lot of friends, I spend basically all my free time in the music wing and it’s very rewarding. Both Ms. Natalie and Mr. Conroy have also impacted me; I’m going to college for music now because of them.

What was/were your favorite piece(s) you’ve performed?

Genevieve Wahlgren: “English Folk Song Suite” by Ralph Vaughn Williams (Spring 2024) and “How to Train Your Dragon” by John Powell, arr. Sean O’Loughlin (Spring 2024) for previous years. For this concert my favorite piece has been “Pirates of the Caribbean” by Klaus Badelt, arr. John Wasson. It’s the one I like the most, but also the one I struggle with the most (it’s weird to be playing higher than the flutes). But each section has a very different feel which is very fun.

Abby Roger: “Celtic Air and Dance” arr Michael Sweeney (Spring 2022), “How to Train Your Dragon” by John Powell, arr. Sean O’Loughlin (Spring 2024), and “American Riversongs” by Pierre la Plante (Spring 2026)

Amaia Hayes: “English Folk Song Suite” by Ralph Vaughn Williams (Spring 2024)

Joslan Carter: Band: “Kingdom Dance” by Alan Menken, arr. Robert Longfield (Spring 2025), “Across the Alaskan Snow” by Jarod Hall (Winter 2024), “Earth Song” by Frank Ticheli (Spring 2023), and “Snow on Snow” by Megan Vinther (Winter 2025) / Chorus: “Little Creek” by Matt Carlson (Spring 2026), “Not Strong Enough” by boygenius (Winter 2023), “Time” by Jennifer Lucy Cook (Winter 2025), and “Apple Tree” by Aurora Aksnes, arr. Katerina Gimon (Spring 2025)

Elliot VanSteenburg: Band: “American Riversongs” by Pierre La Plante (Spring 2026) and “Waltz” by Dmitri Shostakovich (Spring 2026) / Chorus: “Measure Me Sky!” by Elaine Hagenberg (Winter 2024), “Little Creek” by Matt Carlson (Spring 2026), “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” by Dolly Parton, arr. Craig Johnson (Spring 2026), and “Sunday” by Stephen Sondheim, arr. Mac Huff (Spring 2026)

Jenni Cruz: “Not Strong Enough” by boygenius (Winter 2023), “Requiem” by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, “Stick Season” by Noah Kahan, arr. Joslan Carter and Emmanuel Jeffries (Spring 2024), and I really like all the Chorus pieces we’ve done this year.

Brandon Martinez: “Music from Wicked” by Stephen Schwartz, arr. Michael Sweeney (Spring 2025); it’s one of my favorite musicals, too.

Lily D’Ordine: Chorus: “Measure Me Sky!” by Elaine Hagenberg (Winter 2024), “Pulse” by Robert Gibson (Spring 2024), “Sunday” by Stephen Sondeim, arr. Mac Huff (Spring 2026), and “Apple Tree” by Aurora Aksnes, arr. Katerina Gimon (Spring 2025) / Band: “Billy Joel in Concert” by Billy Joel, arr. Paul Murtha (Winter 2025)

Mason Decker: “Music from Wicked” by Stephen Schwartz, arr. Michael Sweeney (Spring 2025), “Billy Joel in Concert” by Billy Joel, arr. Paul Murtha (Winter 2025), and “Children’s March” by Robert Smith (Winter 2022)

River Enschede: “Music from Wicked” by Stephen Schwartz, arr. Michael Sweeney (Spring 2025), “How to Train Your Dragon” by John Powell, arr. Sean O’Loughlin (Spring 2024), “Children’s March” by Robert Smith (Winter 2022), “La La Land” by Hurwitz, Pasek, and Paul, arr. Michael Brown (Winter 2023), and I like all the songs we’re doing this year for Chorus (like “Sunday” by Stephen Sondheim, arr. Mac Huff (Spring 2026))

Any Other Thoughts

Joslan Carter: If you have even the slightest inclination towards music, please consider joining the music department. There are so many ensembles and so many opportunities that you are certain to find the right place for you, and that participation can very well become the best experience of your high school career.

Mason Decker: Do music – it’s cool.

If you want to see these seniors’ final RHS performances, check out this semester’s and past concerts on the Rhinebeck Schools Youtube channel, and see the Small Ensemble Concert during the school day on June 5th.